Biased Patents (Class 251/272)
  • Patent number: 11499649
    Abstract: A flow control valve includes a housing having a valve chamber, an inlet port, an outlet port, and a valve seat. In addition, the flow control valve includes a valve body disposed in the valve chamber, an actuator having an output rotational shaft, a feed screw mechanism to convert forward and reverse rotational motion of the output rotational shaft to axial reciprocating motion of the valve body, a backlash preventive spring positioned between the housing and the valve body, and a spring supporting device formed on the housing and having a spring seating surface. The spring seating surface is spaced from the valve seat in an opening direction of the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinji Murai
  • Patent number: 11280429
    Abstract: This application provides a valve member that includes a diaphragm portion and a valve head attachable to the diaphragm portion. The valve head includes an engagement portion configured to engage with a valve seat defined in the valve. The engagement portion is formed of a melt processable material that contains at least one fluoropolymer. The diaphragm portion is formed of a material that is non-melt processable and contains at least one fluoropolymer. This application also provides a valve that includes the valve member and a passageway with the valve seat. The valve head is configured to be moveable relative to the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: ENTEGRIS, INC.
    Inventor: John A. Leys
  • Publication number: 20140103240
    Abstract: A manually operated actuator is provided with an over-travel feature. The over-travel feature may be realized with a controlled thread backlash or with a biasing member such as a Belleville spring. When used with a flow control device such as a diaphragm valve, the over-travel feature allows the valve to open and close at actuator positions other than full stop positions. Embodiments for manual actuators and hybrid actuators are presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: SWAGELOK COMPANY
    Inventors: William H. Glime, III, Branden W. Keeper
  • Patent number: 6994310
    Abstract: A valve for regulating fluid flow and associated method of use. The valve includes a stepper motor, a first valve portion having an inlet port for receiving fluid into the valve, a second valve portion having an outlet port for dispensing fluid from the valve, a third valve portion located between the first valve portion and the second valve portion, a first member that is rotatable and operatively attached to the stepper motor, and a second member, having a first portion and a second portion, which engages the first member for linear movement of the second member between a first position and a second position when the first member is rotated by the stepper motor to block fluid flow when the second member is located in the first position and allow fluid flow when the second member is located in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Ranco Incorporated of Delaware
    Inventors: Robert R. Norris, Gary L. Russo
  • Patent number: 5820035
    Abstract: An improved feed distribution and closure mechanism for use with broadcast spreaders for spreading granular or powdery material or both is described. The mechanism comprises a threaded shaft, a disk mounted on the shaft having a central opening provided with internal threads mating with the shaft, a return spring, and a collar or the like on the shaft to stop travel of the disk on the shaft. Materials which may be spread using spreaders equipped with the mechanism include, without limitation, sand and/or salt on roads; materials such as herbicides, pesticides, fertilizer, lime and seeds such as grass seed on fields, lawns, golf courses and the like; and most particularly, feed for both domesticated and game animals and birds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Inventors: John B. Johnson, William Larry Johnson
  • Patent number: 5232199
    Abstract: A sliding gate line blind for preventing fluids from traveling downstream from the blind including a body for connection to a pipeline, the body being open to the atmosphere and having an inner portion and an outer portion, the body having an entrance passage and an exit passage, an axially expanding gate assembly slidably received in the body for selectively sealing and opening the pipeline, the expanding gate assembly including two planar surfaces having openings therein for alignment with the entrance passage and the exit passage to permit flow through the pipeline and sealing surfaces for alignment with the entrance passage and exit passage to stop flow through downstream from the sliding gate line blind, and an actuator for moving the expanding gate assembly within the body to selectively seal and open the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Inventor: James R. Thrasher
  • Patent number: 5060909
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shut-off valve comprising a valve housing (12), a valve piston with valve cone (22) arranged up-stream of an associated valve seat (20), and a piston holder (16) axially movable within the valve housing (14) by means of a spindle (58) and accommodating said valve piston. To prevent overtightening of the valve piston, the piston holder (16) is connected to the valve housing (14) in the manner of a slip clutch. In addition, the outlet port (146) of the shut-off valve can be closed by a non-return valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Inventor: Miodrag Stanic
  • Patent number: 4895301
    Abstract: A vehicle engine coolant system and method of making the same are provided, the system having a valve construction comprising a housing provided with an inlet interconnected to the block of the internal combustion engine of the vehicle and an outlet interconnected to the radiator of the engine and being separated from the inlet by a valve seat, a movable valve member carried by the housing for opening and closing the valve seat, and an electrically operated stepper motor carried by the housing and being operatively interconnected to the valve member for positioning the valve member relative to the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: Billy E. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 4402340
    Abstract: A combined manual and pressure-responsive shut-off valve, intended particularly for use with high pressure gas cylinders, is disclosed. The valve includes a single seat and a single plug, the plug having a first sealing surface for closing against a low residual pressure in the cylinder and a second sealing surface for closing against a relatively high cylinder pressure. A pressure-responsive actuator engages the first sealing surface against the seat whenever pressure in the cylinder falls below a predetermined minimum. A manual actuator engages the second sealing surface against the valve seat to close against a wide range of pressures. The seat is specifically configured to conform to the plug. Means are provided for refilling the cylinder without removing the combined valve. In one embodiment, a special tool is provided for opening the pressure-responsive actuator. In a second embodiment, a bypass check valve is provided to allow gas to flow into the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Inventor: Hanford N. Lockwood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4380325
    Abstract: A gas-operated valve actuator having a gas operated motor, a mechanism for disengaging the valve's manual operation apparatus, and a device for quickly shutting off the actuator when the valve's drive shaft reaches its travel limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1983
    Inventor: Thomas W. Palmer
  • Patent number: 4354666
    Abstract: A valve body has a chamber with a lower portion provided with inlet and outlet openings and an upper portion that includes a diaphragm seat having a surface with a presclected degree of roughness. An assembly of individual flexible metallic diaphragms is positioned in a stacked arrangement a graphite gasket positioned on the roughened diaphragm seat. A bonnet bolted to the valve body applies a downward bearing force upon the outer annular edge of the diaphragm assembly to secure the diaphragm assembly and gasket in sealing relation with the valve body to seal the chamber upper portion from the chamber lower portion. A yoke member is secured to the valve body in surrounding, spaced relation with the bonnet. A valve member has a disc portion arranged to move into and out of abutting relation with a valve seat of the valve body to control the flow of fluid under substantial pressure through the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1982
    Assignee: Kerotest Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventor: Joseph P. McHale
  • Patent number: 3934814
    Abstract: In a fluid-flow control valve provided with jacking means (which may comprise a nut rotatable on a threaded shaft) operable to move a valve closure member into and out of seating engagement with a valve seat and to exert between the valve closure member and a reaction member, fixed in position relative to the valve seat, a thrust which holds the valve closure member on the valve seat, there is interposed between the jacking means and either the valve closure member or the reaction member a resiliently-deformable thrust-transmitting means (e.g. a pair of Belleville springs); and the jacking means is provided with stop means which limits the extent to which the jacking means can deform the thrust-transmitting means after the valve closure member has seated on the valve seat, thereby limiting said thrust to a safe maximum value dependent on the adjustment of the stop means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1976
    Assignee: The English Electric Company Limited
    Inventor: Peter Orszak